The Scottish couple, who now live in Hartburn, Stockton, were taking part in a Sporting Bears charity event at Teesside Autodrome, offering families linked to Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, Butterwick Hospice and Kiltonthorpe School amongst other charities a unique chance to be driven around the track in a classic car.

The pair have been members of the Middlesbrough branch of Sporting Bears for about three years, with Chris, 35, the proud owner of a Westfield V8.

He thought the charity event was the perfect opportunity to pop the question surrounded by many friends from the club, which sees owners of classic and sports cars share their pride and joy with people in need of cheering up.

Chris said: “All our friends are here and it’s a special day.

“We’ve been members of the club for about three years now and I thought, “what better way of doing it than surrounded by our friends.”

Chris began cooking up the idea two months ago, involving 20 other club members who were all in on the act.

Even traffic police present on the day agreed to pull Claire over for comic effect!

He picked the stunning Princess cut diamond ring with the help of some female friends - and it fit perfectly thanks to his discovery his pinkie finger was the same size as Claire’s ring finger.

Claire had remained oblivious to the fact his interest in the size of their fingers and his attempts at encouraging her to dress as Minnie Mouse rather than Elsa to match his costume meant he was up to something.

Claire, a dispenser at the University Hospital of North Tees, said: “I had no idea what he was planning. It was a total surprise and of course, I said yes! He wanted to put the roof up on the car but it was raining and I said, “we’ll put it down”. I still had no idea.”

Chris said he hoped Claire would marry him in the next couple of years - although Claire insists she “wants a new kitchen first!”

But whenever it happens, Chris expects the wedding to take a lot less organising than the proposal!

He said: “I thought it would be an easy, quick thing to do but it took a lot more organising than I thought.

“I’m just pleased it has gone well. The wedding will probably take a lot less planning than this!”

Claire added: “I have always said I’d like to get married in Vegas. Or we could go to Disneyland.”